Preasráitis
Ministers McEntee and Coveney welcome publication of the fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, welcomed the publication today of the fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC).
The Fourth Report sets out the Commission’s further assessment of progress to date on the implementation of the provisions of the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement that are designed to tackle paramilitary activity and associated criminality, and bringing an end to paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.
The Commission reports that paramilitary activity remains a stark reality of life in Northern Ireland and describes it as a clear and present danger.
The Reports of the Commission provide an invaluable insight into the work that is being done to tackle paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland and they set out a pathway to achieving progress both through the policing and criminal justice response and a response to the wider socio-economic factors that exist in the communities where paramilitaries continue to operate.
This year the Commission highlights that as a result of the major focus that has been brought to bear on tackling paramilitarism following the Fresh Start Agreement, there are now a whole range of actions and initiatives in place that simply did not exist before and that these are now beginning to have real effect on the ground. There is of course still work to be done and the IRC sets out some further recommendations, building on their previous reports.
Speaking on the Report’s publication, Minister McEntee said:
"This fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission sets out the stark reality that paramilitary activity remains a clear and present danger in Northern Ireland.
"These groups carry out horrendous crimes such as paramilitary style shootings, attacks on police officers and attacks in their own communities. As well as this appalling physical violence, the Commission focuses on coercive control in this Report and the harm that it causes to the communities that are in the grip of this fearful reality.
"Paramilitarism, and the associated criminality that we witness, is simply unacceptable and something that our communities should not have to endure. We need to ensure pressure is maintained to bring this activity to an end.
"I welcome that the IRC reports that the range of actions and initiatives commenced on foot of Fresh Start are now beginning to have real effect on the ground. There is of course still work to be done and we will continue working with our UK and Northern Ireland counterparts, and the Independent Reporting Commission on tackling this ingrained problem."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, said:
"I welcome the fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission.
"The Commission continues to provide an invaluable and comprehensive overview of efforts to end continuing paramilitary activity.
"The report makes clear that, while some progress has been made, many challenges remain. As the Commissioners recognise, the twin track approach – incorporating policing and justice measures and a wider approach that deals with systemic issues – is crucial. The Commissioners have highlighted the complex issues required in ending paramilitarism and I look forward to continuing to engage with them on this in the coming year."
Ministers McEntee and Coveney expressed thanks to the Commissioners and officials for this Report and their work to date.
The Fresh Start Agreement was concluded on 17 November 2015. It included measures aimed at ending paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Executive, on the basis of recommendations from an expert panel, published the Executive Action Plan for Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime on 19 July 2016. It contains 43 commitments in response to the Panel’s recommendations.
To facilitate monitoring of the implementation of measures to address paramilitarism, the Fresh Start Agreement provides for the establishment by the two Governments of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC). Legislation was enacted in Ireland and the UK to establish the IRC.
The IRC’s functions are to:
The IRC is a four-member body. Mr. Tim O’Connor, former Secretary General to the President was nominated by the Irish Government. The UK Government nominated Mr. Mitchell Reiss, former US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. Prof. Monica McWilliams and Mr. John McBurney were nominated by the Northern Ireland Executive.
The IRC retain their view that paramilitarism remains “a clear and present danger”. The IRC describe 2021 as a challenging and mixed year, with some progress but with new complexities also as a result of reaction to Brexit and the Protocol, resulting in paramilitarism resuming an increasing prominence.
A key theme of the Report is that, arising from the major focus that has been brought to bear on tackling paramilitarism as a result of the Fresh Start process, there are now a whole range of actions and initiatives in place that did not exist before and that these are now beginning to have real effect on the ground. But at the same time, clear challenges remain. These have been particularly highlighted by the disorder on the streets in the Spring and in November. But the challenges are also reflected in the lack of progress in some areas of the Tackling Paramilitarism Action Plan.
The IRC also allude to a number of contextual issues that have an impact on ending paramilitarism, or are connected to it in some way. These include Legacy, the nature of the coercive control of communities by paramilitaries, the financial commitments needed around ending paramilitarism, the impact of COVID-19, the theme of Memorialisation which was raised last year (the commemoration of past events/figures connected to paramilitarism) and the issues of Shared Housing and Integrated Education.
In general, there has been a downward trend in security-related incidents in Northern Ireland over the past ten years, with the exception of paramilitary style assaults, which have generally increased. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced trends in the last two financial years.
The report contains 3 recommendations: